System and method for monitoring an agricultural belt

ABSTRACT

A belt monitoring system for an agricultural belt arrangement, the monitoring system including an agricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein and a sensor. The agricultural belt arrangement defines a proper belt alignment for the belt and moves the belt. The magnetic element is polarized so as to output a magnetic signal. The sensor is configured to detect, at a reference position, the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element. The monitoring system further includes a circuit configured to output a signal if, for example, the agricultural belt moves more than a predetermined amount through the agricultural belt arrangement without the sensor arrangement detecting the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element, a predetermined amount of time passes without the sensor detecting the magnetic signal, and the circuit determines the position of the magnetic element to be outside of a permissible positional range.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to agricultural belts. Such belts can, forexample, be used in a draper header of a combine harvester and in otheragricultural applications such as agricultural sorting arrangements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Draper belts on agricultural draper headers for combines process cropsduring harvesting. Draper belts are typically driven by a hydraulicmotor which in turn is powered by the hydraulic system of the combine.If an excess of soil contaminates the header, the belt might becomemisaligned, de-tracked and slip out of the drive pulley. This can resultin a damaged draper belt and potentially a damaged mechanical structureof the draper header which can lead to additional downtime duringharvesting. The same issues can occur in other agricultural belt systemssuch as agricultural sorting arrangements.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,735 discloses a device for coding and markingobjects and is incorporated herein by reference. The coding and markingsystem is embedded in the object and includes a plurality of detectablematerial particles. The detectable particles are arranged in a patternrepresenting a code. The detectable particles and thus the code are readby a scanner as the object moves past the scanner or a scanner movespast the object. The device for coding and marking objects disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,789,735 is, in particular, for conveyor belts, conveyorbelt connections, and tubular bodies such as hoses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a system for monitoring theposition of a belt and determining whether the belt has mis-tracked.

The object can, for example, be achieved by an agricultural beltmonitoring system for an agricultural belt arrangement, the monitoringsystem including an agricultural belt having a magnetic element embeddedtherein. The system further includes a sensor arrangement including atleast one sensor. The agricultural belt arrangement defines a properbelt alignment for the agricultural belt and can drive the agriculturalbelt through the agricultural belt arrangement. The magnetic element isconfigured to a magnetic signal. The sensor arrangement is configured todetect, at a reference position in the agricultural belt arrangement,the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element when theagricultural belt is in the proper belt alignment as the agriculturalbelt moves through the agricultural belt system. A circuit is configuredto output a signal if at least one of: the agricultural belt moves morethan a predetermined amount through the agricultural belt arrangementwithout the sensor detecting the magnetic signal outputted by themagnetic element, and, a predetermined amount of time passes without thesensor detecting the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic elementwhen the agricultural belt is moving through the agricultural beltarrangement.

The magnetic elements can be permanent magnets or include a materialcapable of being magnetized such as a ferromagnetic material. If amaterial capable of being magnetized is used instead of a permanentmagnet, a field generator can be used to magnetize the magnetic elementsprior to them being read by the scanner.

The object is also achieved by an agricultural belt monitoring systemfor an agricultural belt system defining a lateral and a longitudinaldirection, wherein the monitoring system includes an agricultural belthaving at least one magnetic element embedded therein. The monitoringsystem further includes a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor.The agricultural belt system is configured to move the agricultural beltthrough the agricultural belt arrangement in the longitudinal direction.The magnetic element is configured to output a magnetic signal.

The sensor arrangement is configured to detect, at a reference positionin the agricultural belt arrangement, the magnetic signal outputted bythe magnetic element as the agricultural belt moves through theagricultural belt arrangement. The system further includes a circuitconfigured to determine a position of the magnetic element with respectto the lateral direction on the basis of the magnetic signal detected bythe sensor arrangement. The circuit is further configured to compare theposition of the magnetic element determined by the circuit to apermissible positional range with respect to the lateral direction. Whenthe position of the magnetic element determined by the circuit isoutside of the permissible positional range, the circuit is configuredto output a signal.

According to another embodiment, the signal outputted by the circuit canbe used by the drive of the agricultural belt arrangement to control andcorrect the alignment of the agricultural belt in the agricultural beltarrangement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method formonitoring the position of an agricultural belt in a belt system.

The object can, for example, be achieved by a method for monitoring anagricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein. Theagricultural belt is configured to move through an agricultural beltsystem defining a lateral direction. The method including the steps of:detecting a magnetic signal of the magnetic element embedded in theagricultural belt; determining a position of the magnetic element withrespect to the lateral direction; comparing the determined position ofthe magnetic element to a permissible positional range; and, outputtinga signal when the determined position of the magnetic element is outsidethe permissible positional range.

The object can further be achieved by a method for monitoring anagricultural belt in an agricultural belt arrangement with anagricultural belt monitoring system, the agricultural belt having amagnetic element configured to output a magnetic signal embeddedtherein, the agricultural belt arrangement being configured to move theagricultural belt through the agricultural belt arrangement and defininga proper agricultural belt alignment, the magnetic element beingarranged in the agricultural belt such that the magnetic element passesthrough an area scanned by a sensor arrangement configured to detect themagnetic signal, the method comprising the steps of: scanning at least alongitudinal subsection of the agricultural belt for the magnetic signaloutputted by the magnetic element as the agricultural belt moves throughthe agricultural belt arrangement with the sensor arrangement;outputting a signal when at least one of: the agricultural belt movesmore than a predetermined amount through the agricultural beltarrangement without the sensor detecting the magnetic signal outputtedby the magnetic element, and, a predetermined amount of time passeswithout the sensor detecting the magnetic signal outputted by themagnetic element when the agricultural belt is moving through theagricultural belt arrangement.

Unlike the conveyor belt based technology application or otherembodiments which look at entire belt width, the monitoring system,here, focuses on the magnetic signal emitted by a magnetic elementembedded in the belt. The magnetic element can be a permanent magnet orinclude a material capable of being magnetized, for example, aferromagnetic material. An example of the magnetic element is the end ofan embedded wire or cord and the monitoring system monitors the positionof the end of the wire end to determine whether the belt is stilltracking properly. The position of the magnetic element is determinedvia a sensor. The sensor can be a sensor array having a fixed position.Examples of possible sensors include Hall Effect sensors, magnetic fielddetecting coils and any sensors configured to interact with magneticfields to generate a sensor response proportional to the field strength.Additional functionality of the belt monitoring system includes that thesystem can be used as an independent speed indicator as the embeddedwire could be monitored over time to determine the speed at which thebelt is moving through the belt arrangement. The belt monitoring systemcan also be used to determine whether belt slip has occurred, that isthe belt, for example, slipped on the pulley resulting in the belt notmoving as much and/or fast through the agricultural belt arrangement asindicated by a sensor, for example, measuring the speed at which thepulley is moving. Further, the belt arrangement can be used to activelycontrol the drive mechanism on the harvester so as to correct the belttracking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 shows an agricultural belt arrangement in the exemplary form of adraper header for a combine harvester;

FIG. 2A shows the top surface of an agricultural belt having transverseprotrusions configured as cleats;

FIG. 2B shows the bottom surface of an agricultural belt having av-guide;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the belt monitoring system;

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the belt monitoring system monitoring thetop surface of an agricultural belt;

FIG. 5A shows a further embodiment of the belt monitoring systemmonitoring the top surface of an agricultural belt; and,

FIG. 5B shows the embodiment of FIG. 5A wherein the agricultural belt ismisaligned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an agricultural belt arrangement. In the example of FIG. 1,the agricultural belt arrangement 1 is a draper header of a combineharvester. In the shown example, the agricultural belt arrangement 1includes three agricultural belts 3. Each of the belts 3 can beseparately monitored with the monitoring system described herein. Theagricultural belts 3 shown in FIG. 1 include a belt carcass and aplurality of transverse protrusions 17, here configured as cleats,extending up from the belt carcass. The belt carcass defines alongitudinal belt direction. The cleats are arranged transverse to thelongitudinal belt direction. The belts can also have one or morev-guides (See FIG. 2B). The v-guide 15 aids the agricultural beltarrangement 1 in guiding the belt 3 through the belt arrangement 1 andextends in the longitudinal belt direction. The agricultural beltarrangement 1 includes a frame 25 and defines the alignment of theagricultural belt 3 and the course thereof. The agricultural beltarrangement 1 can, for example, also be part of an agricultural sortingfacility or other agricultural application.

Magnetic elements 5 are embedded in the belt to facilitate themonitoring of the agricultural belt 3. The magnetic elements 5 can beembedded directly in the belt carcass or in a belt structure projectingfrom the belt carcass, such as in a v-guide 15 or a transverse elementlike a cleat. The magnetic elements 5 can include permanent magnets or amaterial capable of being magnetized, such as a ferromagnetic material.Where the magnetic elements 5 do not include a permanent magnet butrather a material capable of being magnetized, the magnetic elements 5are magnetized via, for example, a field generator 13 so as to enablethe sensor arrangement 7 to detect a magnetic signal outputted by themagnetic elements 5. The magnetic element 5 is magnetically polarized orcan be magnetically polarized prior to passes the sensor so that themagnetic element outputs a magnetic signal. The magnetic signaloutputted by the magnetic element 5 can be a unique magnetic signal. Ifthe system is used in an application or environment where other magneticsignals are generated, the sensor arrangement 7 can be configured todetect the unique magnetic signal of the magnetic element 5. Further,where a plurality of magnetic elements 5 are embedded in the belt, eachmagnetic element 5 can output a unique signal so as to, for example,enable the circuit 11 to determine the identity of the magnetic element5 detected by the sensor arrangement 7. The circuit 11 can be an analogor digital circuit. Further the circuit can, for example, be in the formof a microprocessor, microcontroller, a central processing unit of acomputer and the like.

FIG. 2A shows the top portion of an agricultural belt 3 havingtransverse protrusions 17 extending up from the main body of theagricultural belt 3. The transverse protrusions 17, here, are embodiedas cleats. The transverse protrusions 17 may, however, have differentconfigurations, such as a chevron pattern, diamond top, rough top orother patterns. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2, wires 31 areembedded in the individual cleats. Magnetic elements 5 of otherconfigurations can also be embedded in the transverse protrusions 17.One or both ends of the wire 31 can be used as the magnetic elements 5.If, for example, the wire 31 is made of a ferromagnetic material, thefield generator 13 can magnetize the wire 31 so as to enable the sensorarrangement 7 to detect the ends thereof, whereby one end may have theopposite polarity of the other end of the wire 31. The field generator13 can, for example, be a permanent magnet. Accuracy of the monitoringof the tracking of the agricultural belt 3 can be improved where thesensor arrangement 7 is configured to detect both ends of the wire 31.Where both sides of the wire are detected and the position of each ismonitored, the system can provide redundancy, thus improving thereliability and accuracy of the system. Each end of the wire may have anopposite polarity, thus one end would be north and the opposing endwould be south. A single sensor 8 may detect both ends of the wire 31 ora separate sensor 8 can be allocated to each end of the wire 31. Otherconfigurations could of course also be used, for example, a washer couldbe used as the magnetic element which could then be subject to radialmagnetization. The agricultural belt 3 moves through the agriculturalbelt arrangement in a longitudinal direction 27 (the longitudinaldirection can also refer to the opposite direction of the arrow shown inFIG. 2A).

FIG. 2B shows the bottom portion of an agricultural belt having av-guide 15. The v-guide 15 can interact with the pulley 23 or anotherfeature of the agricultural belt arrangement 1 so as to improve theguiding of the agricultural belt through the arrangement 1. The magneticelements 5 in the example shown in FIG. 2B can be either or both ends ofwires 31. A single wire 31 may be embedded in the v-guide or a pluralitythereof. Where a plurality of wires 31 are embedded in the v-guide, theycan also be spaced equally from each other or in a pattern.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the agricultural belt monitoring systemfor an agricultural belt arrangement including a drive 9 and a pulley23. An agricultural belt 3 is driven through an agricultural beltarrangement via the drive 9 and the pulley 23. The agricultural beltarrangement guides the agricultural belt and defines a proper beltalignment. The agricultural belt arrangement can also include acontroller 21 for controlling the drive 9. The agricultural beltmonitoring system includes an agricultural belt 3 having magneticelements 5 embedded therein, though a single magnetic element 5 cansuffice. The magnetic elements 5 can be permanent magnets or include amaterial capable of being magnetized such as a ferromagnetic material.Where non-magnetic elements are embedded the monitoring system caninclude a field generator 13 for magnetizing the magnetic elements 5 soas to enable their detection by the sensor arrangement 7. The sensorarrangement 7 is disposed at a reference position. The sensorarrangement 7 includes at least one sensor 8 and can be configured as asensor array including a plurality of sensors. The sensor arrangement 7can include an electromagnetic sensor. If permanent magnets are used forthe magnetic elements 5, the sensor arrangement can use a variety ofmagnet-sensitive methods to detect the magnetic element 5, for examplemagnetic inductive methods, magnetoresistive sensors or sensors based onthe Hall Effect. The sensor arrangement is operatively connected to acircuit 11. The belt monitoring system can also include a data storageunit, which can store a pattern describing how a plurality of magneticelements 5 are distributed over the agricultural belt 3.

According to an embodiment, the sensor arrangement 7 is configured toscan a longitudinal subsection 33 of the agricultural belt 3 as shown inFIG. 4. When the agricultural belt 3 is in proper alignment in theagricultural belt arrangement 1, the magnetic element 5 is within thelongitudinal subsection 33 as the agricultural belt 3 moves through theagricultural belt arrangement 1 and is detected by the sensorarrangement 7 as it passes the same. If the agricultural belt 3 becomesmisaligned and thus the magnetic element 5 is no longer in thelongitudinal subsection 33 scanned by the sensor arrangement 7, thesensor arrangement 7 can no longer detect the magnetic element 5.

The circuit 11 can measure the time between subsequent detections of themagnetic element 5 and can receive input data regarding the speed atwhich the agricultural belt 3 is moving from the agricultural beltarrangement. The circuit 11 may also receive average speed data from theagricultural belt arrangement 1, especially if monitoring is to occurwhile the belt 3 is accelerating or slowing down. If the circuit 11determines that the sensor arrangement 7 has not detected the magneticelement for a predetermined amount of time, the circuit 11 outputs asignal. The signal can be used to alarm a user of the agricultural beltarrangement 1, stop the belt 3, or as an input to the agricultural beltarrangement to control the belt alignment. Where the speed of the belt 3is variable, the predetermined amount of time may also be made dependenton the speed of the belt 3.

In embodiments in which the speed of the belt is known, for example froma sensor or drive 9 of the agricultural belt arrangement 1, or iscalculated by the circuit 11, a time target can be linked to the beltspeed and historic belt properties. The historic belt properties of theagricultural belt 3 can be stored in the data storage unit 12. In anembodiment with a single magnetic element 5 embedded in the belt, forexample, if the belt has a known length of five meters and theagricultural belt 3 is moving at a speed of 2 meters per second (m/s),the belt monitoring system should expect to detect the magnetic element5 every 2.5 seconds. The locations of the magnetic elements 5 can alsobe stored on the data storage unit 12, especially if the magneticelements 5 are arranged in a pattern or are distributed in an unevenmanner over the length of the belt.

Alternatively or additionally the circuit 11 can receive informationregarding the amount the belt 3 has moved from the agricultural beltarrangement 1 and output a signal when the agricultural belt 3 has movedmore than a predetermined amount without the sensor arrangement 7detecting a magnetic element 5.

A plurality of magnetic elements 5 can also be embedded in the belt 3 ata known spaced relationship to each other and if the time or distancetraveled between detections of subsequent ones of the magnetic elements5 is greater than a predetermined amount, the circuit 11 outputs asignal. Where the magnetic elements 5 are distributed over the length ofthe belt in a pattern, the pattern may be stored on a data storage unit12. The circuit 11 can then access the pattern stored on the datastorage unit 12 so as to determine the amount of time or amount ofmovement before the sensor arrangement 7 is expected to detect the nextmagnetic element 5.

The pattern can represent a code which can be read by the sensorarrangement and evaluated by the circuit. The arrangement of themagnetic elements in a pattern representing a code enables a user or asystem to determine the unique identity of the belt which can be linkedto date of manufacture, specific quality and production records, etc.

The circuit can also be configured to include a counter which tracks thenumber of revolutions of the agricultural belt as it moves through theagricultural belt arrangement. The agricultural belt monitoring systemcould through the inclusion of a counter provide an indication as to theservice life of the agricultural belt.

According to another embodiment, the circuit 11 is configured todetermine a position of the magnetic element 5 with respect to a lateraldirection 29 as defined by the agricultural belt arrangement 1. Thesensor arrangement 7 may scan the entire width of the agricultural belt3 or a subsection thereof. FIG. 5A shows the agricultural belt 3 in aproper alignment in the agricultural belt arrangement 1 with themagnetic element 5 disposed within a permissible positional range 35.When the magnetic element 5 is detected by the sensor arrangement 7, thecircuit 11 determines the position of the magnetic element with respectto the lateral direction and compares the determined position to thepermissible positional range 35. In the event the belt 3 becomesmisaligned as shown in FIG. 5B and the circuit 11 determines that theposition of the magnetic element 5 as detected by the sensor arrangement7 is outside of the permissible positional range 35, the circuit 11outputs a signal. The circuit 11 can also output a signal when nomagnetic element is detected for a predetermined amount of time or thebelt 3 has traveled more than a predetermined amount without a magneticelement 5 having been detected by the sensor arrangement 7. The signaloutputted by the circuit 11 can, for example, be used to alert anoperator, stop the belt or to correct the belt alignment. Where thesignal is used to correct the belt alignment, the signal can, forinstance, include positional information of the magnetic element 5and/or control instructions for the drive so as to realign the belt suchthat the belt returns to the proper alignment and, thus, the magneticelement 5 returns to the permissible positional range 35.

According to a further embodiment, the circuit 11 can also be configuredto determine the speed of the belt. Thus, the belt monitoring system canfunction as a secondary speed indicator. Where the belt 3 includes asingle magnetic element 5, the speed of the belt 3 can, for example, becomputed by the circuit 11 on the basis of the time period betweensequential detections of the magnetic element 5 by the sensorarrangement 7 and the length of the belt 3. Where the agricultural belt3 is accelerating or decelerating, the circuit 11 can determine anaverage speed over the last revolution of the belt 3. The agriculturalbelt 3 can also include a plurality of magnetic elements arranged at aknown spaced relationship to each other. The circuit 11 can compute thespeed of the belt 3 by measuring the time period between detection ofthe individual magnetic elements 5. If the magnetic elements 5 arearranged in a pattern, the pattern can be stored on the data storageunit 12 and be read by the circuit for calculating the speed. Along withthe positional data of the magnetic elements, the permissible positionalrange can also be stored on the data storage unit 12.

In embodiments in which the agricultural belt monitoring systemdetermines the speed of the belt 3, the speed determined by the systemcan be compared to an independent speed sensor which may be part of theagricultural belt arrangement 1. Through the comparison of the speeddetermined by the monitoring system and the speed determined by theindependent speed and the differential therebetween, the circuit canalso determine whether belt slip has occurred.

An RFID tag or more can also be embedded in the belt for determining thebelt position. The agricultural belt monitoring system would theninclude an RFID tag reader arranged at a reference position andconfigured to read the RFID tags. The circuit 11 can then determine theposition of the belt 3 on the basis of RFID tag detection. Informationregarding the RFID tag position can also be stored on the data storageunit 12.

It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferredembodiments of the invention and that various changes and modificationsmay be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Agricultural belt arrangement-   2 Agricultural belt-   5 Magnetic element-   7 Sensor arrangement

8 Sensor

-   9 Drive-   11 Circuit-   12 Data storage unit-   13 Field generator-   15 v-guide-   17 Transverse protrusion-   21 Agricultural belt arrangement controller-   23 Pulley-   25 Frame of the agricultural belt arrangement

27 Longitudinal direction

-   29 Lateral direction-   31 Wire-   33 Longitudinal subsection of the agricultural belt-   35 Permissible positional range

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural belt monitoring system for anagricultural belt arrangement, the monitoring system comprising: anagricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein; a sensorarrangement including at least one sensor; the agricultural beltarrangement defining a proper belt alignment for said agricultural beltand being configured to move said agricultural belt through theagricultural belt arrangement; said magnetic element being configured tooutput a magnetic signal; said sensor arrangement being configured todetect, at a reference position in the agricultural belt arrangement,said magnetic signal outputted by said magnetic element when saidagricultural belt is in said proper belt alignment as said agriculturalbelt moves through the agricultural belt arrangement; a circuitconfigured to output a signal if at least one of: said agricultural beltmoves more than a predetermined amount through the agricultural beltarrangement without said sensor detecting said magnetic signal outputtedby said magnetic element; and, a predetermined amount of time passeswithout said sensor detecting said magnetic signal outputted by saidmagnetic element when said agricultural belt is moving through theagricultural belt arrangement.
 2. The agricultural belt monitoringsystem of claim 1, wherein said magnetic element is a permanent magnet.3. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 1 furthercomprising: a field generator; said magnetic element including aferromagnetic material; and, said field generator being configured tomagnetize said ferromagnetic material so as to make said magneticelement detectable by said sensor arrangement.
 4. The agricultural beltmonitoring system of claim 1, wherein: said agricultural belt has alength and defines a longitudinal belt direction; said agricultural beltincludes an elevation configured as a v-guide running in saidlongitudinal belt direction; and, said magnetic element is arranged insaid v-guide.
 5. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 1,wherein: the system includes a plurality of magnetic elements; and, saidmagnetic elements are disposed sequentially at a spaced relationship toeach other.
 6. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 5,wherein: said spaced relationship between said magnetic elements is aknown spaced relationship; said sensor is configured to sequentiallydetect said magnetic elements; and, said circuit is further configuredto determine the speed of said agricultural belt by measuring at leastone of: a time period between which said sensor detects ones of saidmagnetic element so as to determine the speed of said agricultural belt;and, the amount of magnetic elements detected in a predetermined timewindow.
 7. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:the system includes a plurality of magnetic elements; said agriculturalbelt defines a longitudinal belt direction; said agricultural beltincludes a plurality of transverse belt protrusions; and, said magneticelements are embedded in said transverse belt protrusions.
 8. Theagricultural belt monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the agriculturalbelt is a draper belt.
 9. The agricultural belt system of claim 1,wherein: said agricultural belt has a length; the system includes aplurality of magnetic elements disposed sequentially at a known spacedrelationship to each other along said length of said agricultural belt;said sensor arrangement is configured to sequentially detect saidmagnetic elements; and, said circuit is further configured to determinethe speed of said agricultural belt by measuring at least one of: a timeperiod between which said sensor detects ones of said magnetic elementso as to determine the speed of said agricultural belt; and, the amountof magnetic elements detected in a predetermined time window.
 10. Theagricultural belt monitoring system of claim 9, wherein: theagricultural belt arrangement has a speed sensor configured to output aspeed signal including a measured speed of said agricultural belt; saidcircuit has a speed input configured to receive the speed signal; saidcircuit is configured to determine a speed differential between saidmeasured speed and the speed of said agricultural belt as determined bysaid circuit; and, said circuit is further configured to output a beltslip signal when said speed differential is greater than a predeterminedamount.
 11. An agricultural belt monitoring system for an agriculturalbelt arrangement defining a lateral and a longitudinal direction, themonitoring system comprising: an agricultural belt having at least onemagnetic element embedded therein; a sensor arrangement including atleast one sensor; the agricultural belt arrangement being configured tomove said agricultural belt through the agricultural belt arrangement inthe longitudinal direction; said magnetic element being configured tooutput a magnetic signal; said sensor arrangement being configured todetect, at a reference position in the agricultural belt arrangement,said magnetic signal outputted by said magnetic element as saidagricultural belt moves through the agricultural belt arrangement; acircuit configured to determine a position of said magnetic element withrespect to said lateral direction on the basis of said magnetic signaldetected by said sensor arrangement; said circuit being furtherconfigured to compare said position of said magnetic element determinedby said circuit to a permissible positional range; and, said circuitbeing further configured to output a signal when said positiondetermined by said circuit is outside of said permissible positionalrange.
 12. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11, wherein:said circuit is further configured to output a signal when at least oneof: said agricultural belt moves more than a predetermined amountthrough the agricultural belt arrangement without said sensor detectingsaid magnetic signal outputted by said magnetic element; and, apredetermined amount of time passes without said sensor detecting saidmagnetic signal outputted by said magnetic element when saidagricultural belt is moving through the agricultural belt arrangement.13. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11, wherein saidmagnetic element includes at least one of a permanent magnet, amagnetically polarized ferromagnetic material and a magneticallypermeable material.
 14. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim11 further comprising: a field generator; said magnetic element includesa magnetically permeable material; and, said field generator isconfigured to magnetize said magnetically permeable material.
 15. Theagricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11, wherein said sensor isan electromagnetic sensor.
 16. The agricultural belt monitoring systemof claim 11, wherein: said agricultural belt has a length and defines alongitudinal belt direction; said agricultural belt includes anelevation configured as a v-guide running in said longitudinal beltdirection; and, said magnetic element is arranged in said v-guide. 17.The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 16, wherein: the systemincludes a plurality of magnetic elements; said magnetic elements aredisposed sequentially at a spaced relationship to each other in saidv-guide along said length of said agricultural belt.
 18. Theagricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11, wherein: saidagricultural belt has a length; the system includes a plurality ofmagnetic elements disposed sequentially at a known spaced relationshipto each other along said length of said agricultural belt; said sensorarrangement is configured to sequentially detect said magnetic elements;and, said circuit is further configured to determine the speed of saidagricultural belt by measuring at least one of: a time period betweenwhich said sensor detects ones of said magnetic element so as todetermine the speed of said agricultural belt; and, the amount ofmagnetic elements detected in a predetermined time window.
 19. Theagricultural belt monitoring system of claim 18, wherein: theagricultural belt arrangement has a speed sensor configured to output aspeed signal including a measured speed of said agricultural belt; saidcircuit has a speed input configured to receive the speed signal; saidcircuit is configured to determine a speed differential between saidmeasured speed and the speed of said agricultural belt as determined bysaid circuit; and, said processor being further configured to output abelt slip signal when said speed differential is greater than apredetermined amount.
 20. The agricultural belt monitoring system ofclaim 11, wherein: the system includes a plurality of magnetic elements;said agricultural belt defines a longitudinal belt direction; saidagricultural belt includes a plurality of transverse belt protrusions;and, said magnetic elements are embedded in said transverse beltprotrusions.
 21. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 20,further comprising: a plurality of wires having an end; said ends ofsaid wire being said magnetic element; and, said wires being embedded insaid transverse belt protrusions.
 22. The agricultural belt monitoringsystem of claim 11, further comprising a data storage unit having saidpredetermined permissible positional range for said magnetic elementstored thereon.
 23. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11,wherein the agricultural belt is a draper belt.
 24. The agriculturalbelt monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising: a data storageunit; the agricultural belt monitoring system including a plurality ofmagnetic elements arranged in a pattern along said agricultural belt;said data storage unit having said pattern stored thereon; and, saidcircuit being further configured to compute a speed of said agriculturalbelt on the basis of said pattern stored on said data storage unit bymeasuring a time period between which said sensor detects ones of saidmagnetic element.
 25. The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim11 further comprising: at least one RFID tag embedded at a predefinedlocation in said belt; an RFID tag reader configured to detect said atleast one RFID tag; said agricultural belt defining a belt position;and, said circuit being configured to determine said belt position onthe basis of said RFID tag being detected by said RFID tag reader. 26.The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11, wherein said signalis configured to at least one of trigger an alarm for alerting anoperator of the agricultural system and stop said agricultural belt. 27.The agricultural belt monitoring system of claim 11, wherein said signalis configured to stop said agricultural belt.
 28. An agricultural beltmonitoring system for an agricultural belt arrangement having a drivearrangement, the agricultural belt arrangement defining a longitudinaldirection and a lateral direction, the belt monitoring systemcomprising: an agricultural belt having at least one magnetic elementembedded therein; the agricultural belt arrangement defining a lateraland a longitudinal direction; the drive arrangement being configured tomove said agricultural belt through the agricultural belt arrangement inthe longitudinal direction and control a belt alignment of saidagricultural belt; a sensor arrangement including at least one sensor;said magnetic element being configured to output a magnetic signal; saidsensor arrangement being configured to detect, at a reference positionin the agricultural belt arrangement, said magnetic signal outputted bysaid magnetic element as said agricultural belt moves through theagricultural belt arrangement; a circuit configured to determine aposition of said magnetic element with respect to said lateral directionon the basis of said magnetic signal detected by said sensorarrangement; said circuit being further configured to compare saidposition of said magnetic element determined by said circuit to apermissible positional range; and, said circuit being further configuredto output a control signal to be used to correct said belt alignment viathe drive arrangement when said determined position is outside of saidpermissible positional range.
 29. A method for monitoring anagricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein, theagricultural belt being configured to move through an agricultural beltarrangement defining a lateral direction, the method comprising thesteps of: detecting a magnetic signal of the magnetic element embeddedin the agricultural belt; determining a position of the magnetic elementwith respect to the lateral direction; comparing the determined positionof the magnetic element to a permissible positional range; and,outputting a signal when the determined position of the magnetic elementis outside the permissible positional range.
 30. The method of claim 29,wherein the magnetic element includes at least one of a permanent magnetand a ferromagnetic material.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein themagnetic element includes ferromagnetic material, the method furthercomprising the step of magnetizing said magnetic element.
 32. The methodof claim 29, wherein the agricultural belt is driven through anagricultural belt arrangement by a drive arrangement configured tocontrol a belt alignment of the agricultural belt, the method furthercomprising the step of: controlling the belt alignment of theagricultural belt via the drive arrangement.
 33. A method for monitoringan agricultural belt in an agricultural belt arrangement with anagricultural belt monitoring system, the agricultural belt having amagnetic element configured to output a magnetic signal embeddedtherein, the agricultural belt arrangement being configured to move theagricultural belt through the agricultural belt arrangement and defininga proper agricultural belt alignment, the magnetic element beingarranged in the agricultural belt such that the magnetic element passesthrough an area scanned by a sensor arrangement configured to detect themagnetic signal, the method comprising the steps of: scanning at least alongitudinal subsection of the agricultural belt for the magnetic signaloutputted by the magnetic element with the sensor as the agriculturalbelt moves through the agricultural belt arrangement with the sensorarrangement; and, outputting a signal when at least one of: theagricultural belt moves more than a predetermined amount through theagricultural belt arrangement without said sensor detecting saidmagnetic signal outputted by said magnetic element; and, a predeterminedamount of time passes without the sensor detecting the magnetic signaloutputted by the magnetic element when the agricultural belt is movingthrough the agricultural belt arrangement.